Busy Busy

About this design:

It is busy isn't it? I've been playing around with this idea for a couple of weeks. Made many false starts. The pieces were too long and too flat then I had too many of them. After forming and reforming. cutting down and curving I finally had a piece that was cohesive. It is very interesting.......

I like the design, but one worry/question: how do you get wire which is soft enough to allow for this much bending (without breaking), and yet strong enough to wear, by which I mean, what if it gets caught on someting, like a cuff button, and before you know it – YANK – you’ve lost a cuff button! But will the bracelet still retain its form?

AnnDy, I shape the copper first and I must admit it can get a bit difficult but I have a pair of well padded heavy duty pliers that helps a lot. I make most of the really tight turns and loops first so the copper isn’t too work hardened. When I get a shape I really like I texture it with a chasing hammer. The only places you need to be extra careful are where the wires cross. So far I have never had this type of work accidentally stretched out out of shape. By the time it is formed and textured the shapes are quite solid. They can be hardened even more by tumbling for an hour or two.

Don’t know if it will help but I’ve attached a photo of one link so you can see the construction a bit better.

Don’t be afraid to get in there make squiggles and hammer them to see how the wire reacts.